There are patterns to love.
Of course there’s what’s referred to as “puppy love.” The love of youth. Pure love that has not yet been soiled or splintered or torn asunder.
There is unrequited love, when the object of your affection does not return or share your feelings.
There is love that is a budding blossom, new and overwhelmingly sweet. Not yet kissed by the sun.
Love is many things.
Some twist love into control and cruelty. This is love that is distorted. Misshapen.
There is the love of parent and child. When you hold that newborn for the very first time and feel this immeasurable love that can’t be broken.
It is your duty to teach that child what love is, and what it is not.
“Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.” – Helen Keller
There is the love that consumes you. When you can hardly wait to touch the person you love.
And then later, a time when you can’t bear for him to touch you.
The heat of that person’s “love” singes your skin. The scar left behind never lets you forget what his love taught you.
What love eventually became to you with him in your life.
And what it ultimately destroyed in you.
There is love that drifts away like a leaf in the wind. It appears on hummingbird wings and flies away just as quickly.
Love can be a many splendored thing. It can also leave a bitter taste in your mouth that you are not prepared to swallow.
But you must swallow it to move on, even if it chokes you.
“We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” – Orson Welles
Love can be awkward and hapless.
There is the kind of love that burns so brightly it hurts your eyes. When love is at its apex.
There is the Cinderella-fantasy-kind-of-love that little girls dream about. The kind that includes white picket fences and a forever devotion.
But love is not supposed to hurt.
Did love transform itself into a new shape when you weren’t looking? Or perhaps you did see it, but didn’t want to believe it.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
There is the kind of love you must learn to resist. This is the devil of love.
The one that walks around in sheep’s clothing with poison on its tongue.
It sucks you in with pretty words. Then wraps its reptilian tail around your neck and tries to squeeze the very life out of you.
And even if you’re still left standing, you are broken. Your capacity for love has been forever damaged.
You bear the scars that never let you forget, not for a moment, that the love you embraced was destructive. It mocked you, tortured you and left you for dead.
You must beware those who don’t have the capacity to love. They are consumed with their own needs and desires and can’t see beyond them.
They will use you and abuse you. Take what they want and cast you aside.
You have been “love bombed” and splintered into a thousand tiny pieces by someone who professed to always love you.
“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” – Buddha
What you must remember is that real love is pure and unselfish.
That there are those as twisted as the love they offer.
They could never hold a thing as fragile as love in their hand without squeezing the life out of it.
Listen to what your heart tells you.
When it says run, run like the wind. Until there is enough distance that this love can no longer hurt you.
Your heart will heal. It will bear the bruises, but eventually it will heal.
That does not mean that you can’t love again. It just means that you soldiered through the war and came out alive. But damaged.
And that you will forever look at love through the filter of fear.
Written beautifully. As always.
Thank you
The only true love is found in Jesus Christ. He died so that we will be able to spend eternity with Him. All you have to do is BELIEVE that, CONFESS your sins (we all sin and come short of the glory of God) and ASK Him into your heart – emotions, understanding, whatever you call it. If you truly ask, HE will indwell your life by the HOLY SPIRIT. Then He will place people in your life to encourage you and lead you to know HIM better.
My 14 year old mentee and I were talking about this a few days ago. Believing in God through His son Jesus makes my life here on earth function because I trust their leadership. If when I die there’s nothing, I haven’t lost anything, BUT, if you die not believing in Jesus and you realize you’ve lost everything, you spend eternity separated from the love of God.
Wholeheartedly agree! Thank you for that beautiful comment, Deedee Clark. The love of God is the only true, eternal, undying love.
Wow. Grateful that I haven’t had a similar experience. I am sorry that others have not been as fortunate as I.
I have a friend that’s been married 3 times! The 1st one was a drunk and beat her, she actually quit school for him, nobody could tell her different!
The 2nd husband she thought was a nice guy until he cheated on her yrs after!
The 3rd husband has made all her dreams come true!
So as she says the 3rd time is a charm for her! So there is someone out there for everyone, I just haven’t found mine bc I’ve been to busy working and then helping take care of my grands after. Now I’m going to start getting back out there, to hopefully find my forever bc you never know til you try and everyone deserves to be happy with someone! ❤
Beautifully written, Brenda ~
November we will celebrate 48 years of marriage. I feel very blessed . I noticed another poster had commented she has also been married 48 years.
I have to give credit to my now deceased mother in law for raising a great son.
My mother in law was from Estonia and was a legal immigrant here for 50 years. Met my father in law when he was in the Army. She was sent to Germany by her home country of Estonia. Not sure why . She went through the war. And had a difficult time. But she survived. May she continue to rest in eternal peace.
The best love has caring, commitment, communication, and growth. Love can also be love of self, family, friends, neighbors, animals, plants, country, and home. Be not afraid to love.
I listened to what my heart told me when I was 18. I knew him one month, he proposed I accepted. We married when I had just turned 21 (my mother insisted) We have been together50 years and married 48 in September. NEVER have I regretted it. He is the kindest, sweetest person I have ever met. I have been very sick the past year and he takes wonderful care of me. True love does exist and I was lucky enough to find mine.
I’m glad. Hold onto him!
Yes!
I agree, Brenda…well put! Guess by the time we reach our ages, most of us have been damaged by one sort of love or another…if not by nearly all people we have been involved with, whether kin or not. Or so it seems…so much of live would not have been my choice, that is for sure!! But we go on, trying to make the best of all sweet days, even if those days we are alone…and trying to make lemonade from the lemons we are dealt…so it seems to me.
Being alone is not a bad thing. I enjoy it.